Safety device for metal-mixers.



W. P. GLEASON.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR METAL MIKE-RS.

' APPLICATION FILED JUNE'7, 1912.

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WILLIAM 1. GLEASON, OF GARY, INDIANA.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR METAL-MIXERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 17, 1912.

Application filed June 7, 1912. Serial No. 702,203.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that'I, WILLIAM P. GLEAsoN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Gary, in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Metal-Mixers, of which the following isa specification.

My invention relates to safety devices and has particular reference to a safety device for application to tilting furnaces.

In the manufacture of steel it is not uncommon to employ tilting furnaces either of the open hearth variety or of the type called mixers. It is to the latter type that my invention, as shown in the drawiings, is applied. These furnaces are relatively of enormous size being adapted to contain several hundred tons of molten metal, molten metal being charged thereinto direct from the cupola or blast furnace and withdrawn therefrom as required and charged into the open hearth furnaces for further reduction. Thus it will be seen that a very large quantity of metal is constantly maintained in the mixer. To discharge the metal from the mixer the furnace is usually bodily tilted by means of hydraulic cylinders. It is not uncommon for the controlling means for these cylinders to become disarranged; neither is it uncommon for the operator when pouring a charge to leave his post temporarily and through oversight allowing the tilting to continue and the metal charge to be emptied onto the floor causing damage and frequently death or injury to employees. Neither is it uncommon for the container to creep due to leaky valves or otherwise, in which case molten metal may sometimes be discharged without warning.

My device is designed to prevent any such occurrences as above outlined. The mechanism is so arranged that if the operator leaves his post during the pouring operation the tilting of the furnace will be instantly stopped.

The invention contem lates the employment of two instrumentalities, one, the usual four-way valve operable by hand and the other a valve operable by foot pressure and adapted to cut in an escape from the feeding cylinder to the sewer or outlet. In the normal non-operative position it is impossible to tilt the furnace unless the operator transfers his weight to a foot lever thus closmg c linder 18 is the outlet in the pressure line. Thus it will be seen that should the operator desert his post during the pouring operation the furnace will be stopped in the position it occupied when the operator left his post.

The invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section showing a typical arrangement of my safety device, the parts being for convenience shown out of proportion; that is, the furnace is shown small and the valves shown comparatively large. In this view the parts are shown in normal position, and, Fig. 2 shows a similar view with such position of the parts as will occur during the pouring operation. I

Referring more particularly to the drawings it will be seen that a metal mixer 10 is mounted on suitable rollers 11 and adapted to be actuated by means of hydraulic cylinders 12, 13. The former is the pouring cylinder and the latter the righting cylinder. A ladle 14, usually mounted upon a truck not shown, is in place ready to receive a charge; Suitable pipes 15, 16 connect the pouring and righting cylinders respectively with a four-way valve 17, having connected thereto a pressure pipe 18. Mounted within the valve 17 is a two-part plunger '19 connected by its stem to an operating handle 20. It will be seen by reference to Fig. 1 thatthe valve member is arranged to simultaneously cover the outlets to both of the lines 15, 16, at the same time being balanced against the pressure. Also connected to the valve 17 is an outlet 21, which provides for the waste from the righting cylinder. This is shown in Fig. 2. In this figure it will be seen that the line is open from the pressure directly into the curing cylinder and that by the position of the valve the fluid in the permitted to escape through e outlet 21. Interposed in line 15 1s a ipe 22, connected to a valve 23, operable by means of a lever 24, having a counterweight 25, and arranged to be actuated b a foot lever 26. A pipe 27 from the va ve 23 communicates with the sewer. As shown in Fig. 1, the parts being in normal inoperatlve position, the valve 23 is open; that is, any pressure which might escape through the valve 17 into the pouring cylinder 12 will exert no influence on the furnace but will escape through the valve 23. However, the outlet to the sewer from the righting cylinder 13 is closed therefore no fluid can escape therefrom. When in normal position the furnace could not creep Without a leakage at both points in the valve 17, that is, the point leading into the pouring cylinder and that opening the exhaust outlet to the pipe 21*.

In order to tilt the furnace to withdraw a charge, the operator places'his weight on the foot lever 26, thus closing the valve 23. The hand lever 20 may then be lifted to the position of Fig. 2, when fluid will flow into the pouring cylinder 12 as desired. However, should the operator be called from his post for any reason, the removal of his weight from the foot lever 26 will over-balance the valve, due to the counter-weight 25, opening the valve 23 and allowing the pressure to be removed from the pouring cy inder 12, thus maintaining the furnace in its position. If the cylinder is to be righted the handle 20 is moved into the dotted line position of Fig. 2, permitting fluid to enter the line 16, to the righting cylinder 13. At this time the valve 23 will be left open permitting fluid thus collected in cylinder 12 to escape through pipe 27. By the arrangement shown it is impossible for the charge to be lost or for injury to follow therefrom without the direct intent of the operator. inasmuch as the pouring operation will be instantly stopped when the valve 23 is opened.

I am aware that many modifications may be made in the construction shown and such modifications I consider within the scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described, comprising in combination, opposed fluid pressure cylinders. a valve controlling the en- ,t-rance of fluid to said cylinders, conduits connecting said valve with said cylinders and a second normally open conduit interposed in the conduit between one of said cylinders and said valve, the parts being so arranged that fluid cannot be supplied to one of said cylinders without first closing trance of fluid said normally open conduit, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described, comprising in combination, a tilting furnace, a pair of opposed fluid pressure cylinders arranged to cause the tilting and righting of said furnace, a valve controlling the entrance of fluid to said cylinders, conduits connecting said valve and said cylinders, and a second normally open conduit interposeduin the conduit connecting said valve with said tilting cylinder, and means for closing said normally open conduit whereby pressure may be supplied to said tilting cylinder, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described, comprising in combination, a tilting furnace, two opposed fluid pressure cylinders adapted to respectively tilt and right said furnace, a valve controlling the supply of fluid pressure to both of said cylinders and the exhaust from one of said cylinders, conduits connecting said valve with said cylinders, a normally open escape conduit interposed in the conduit connecting said valve with said tilting cylinder and means for closing said normally open escape conduit whereby when said escape conduit is closed fluid pressure may be supplied to said tilting cylinder, substantially as described.

4:. A device of the class described, com prising in combination, opposed fluid pressure cylinders, a valve controlling the ento said cylinders, conduits connecting said valve with said cylinders and a second normally open conduit interposed in the conduit between one of said cylinders and said valve, a counter-weighted valve interposed in said normally open conduit, said valve being normally held in open position by said counterweight, the parts being so arranged that fluid cannot be supplied to one of said cylinders without first closing said normally open conduit, substantially as described.

WILLIAM P. GLEASOl? l/Vitnesses:

W. H. BAILEY, B. L. COGSHALL. 

